United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) Price Target Lowered to $82.00 at Morgan Stanley

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by analysts at Morgan Stanley from $100.00 to $82.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "underweight" rating on the transportation company's stock. Morgan Stanley's price objective would suggest a potential downside of 28.19% from the company's current price.

UPS has been the subject of several other research reports. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $150.00 to $133.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Argus raised United Parcel Service from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. UBS Group raised their price target on United Parcel Service from $159.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 25th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded United Parcel Service from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $163.00 to $158.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $141.95.

United Parcel Service Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of United Parcel Service stock traded down $0.71 on Friday, hitting $114.19. 15,842,034 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,791,747. United Parcel Service has a one year low of $109.62 and a one year high of $158.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.45 billion, a PE ratio of 17.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.00. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $128.72 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $130.61.

United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The transportation company reported $2.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.23. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 37.38% and a net margin of 6.25%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.47 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that United Parcel Service will post 7.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 7,325 shares of United Parcel Service stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.57, for a total transaction of $1,015,025.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 45,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,249,229.86. This trade represents a 13.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of United Parcel Service

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UPS. Cigna Investments Inc. New increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cigna Investments Inc. New now owns 7,508 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,024,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC now owns 1,677 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $212,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Banco Santander S.A. lifted its stake in shares of United Parcel Service by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Banco Santander S.A. now owns 12,596 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,717,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Gleason Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Gleason Group Inc. now owns 6,576 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $897,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the period. Finally, Quent Capital LLC grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 16.7% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 558 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $70,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About United Parcel Service

United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of express letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States.